Cosmetic holder



Sept. 5, 1950 R. N. HOULIHAN COSMETIC HOLDER Filed May 29, 1947 DUI l [ll 7 3 l l l l l l l l ln k/ 0f 5 O Patented Sept. r, i950 to'liieqlridgeport Metal Goods Manufacturing Company, Bridgeport, Conn., acorporation 'of Connecticut Application May 29, 1947', Serial No.751,240 11 claims. (C1. 20a-t) This invention relates to cosmeticholders?, particularly tothe type of holder for a, stick of plasticmaterial Stich, for example, as lipstick and the like. in a commontypeof cosmetic holder, particularly a lipstick holder-,the stick ofplastic is mounted in a carrier which iswnor mally enclosed in an outerbodysliellorcasing open at one end, with means operable byrelativeturning movement hetween the enclosing shell or casing and a finger gripat the opposite end for projecting the lipstick Vthrough the open end oithe casing to a position of and then retracting it into the casing forprotection. When retracted, the open end or" the hellor casing is closedby a removable cap or closure telescc-ped over this shell or casing. Aserious objection in the common type of holder is that, when the closurecap or cover is in place the propeller mechanism for shifting thelipstick t'o the position of use may be operated to advance the stickand iam it `against the closed end of i'e cap or closure. This makes amessy condition within the holder itself, and also mars, deforms) ormashes tlie free end of the stick of plastic itself, and particularly isthi-S Objectionahle when the device is on display in a store or on aSales counter, as it is very common for a prospective customer to pickup the holder and operate the finger grip in examining` the article',with the result that the free end of the plastic stick is jammed,crushed, and forced out of shape, making the article unsalable. I

it is, there-Fore, a principal object of the present invention toprovide a, simple and novel construction for this type of device,whereby, when the closure cap or cover is in place over the open end ofthe shell or casing it is impossible to operate the4 propeller,mechanismto feed the plastic from the' enclo'irigsh'ell-oiGal ing andjam it against the closed end of the cover or closure. l v

Another ociect is to provide a construction for securing the cover orclosure in v position on 'the shell c1 casing, lin which, laltlMSiiglfiVthe cloture is retained in the closing position, it has a free tnrningmovement vviti'i respect to the enclosing shfil or casi; and the lingergrip' or operai' ad, so that it is impossible While the closiire is Vinplace' 'to cause relative movement between the shell or casing theoperating head' or nger grip to propelthe 'stick oi plas# tic from theshell or casing' and jam it against the closure. l l l A further objectis tclprovide an improved l inf its of so securing the cover or lace.

' out a Sol With the foregoing end .oiher Obieets. in View, 1 havedevised 'bhe- Construction illustrated .in the, accompanying drawingforming `a Partei thisjspecication-u It is, however, to vbe un-derjStood the invention is i limited i0. the Speeii details Of geetrucignand arrangement Shown, but may embody variousclianges and modifica#tions within the scope of the invention. mth-i5 dmWng. Fig. 31 isalpartial side elevation and partial longitudinal sectionfof a lipstickholderwon` an enlargedscale, showing a. construction embodyingmyinvention; l l

Fig.u 2 isa side elevation ofthe inner rotat- 5 ing sleeve or body andon a smaller scale' .V r i llig. V 3 is aside elevation of thestationary operating sleeve; M l vil'ig. Ll islavside elevation of theouter ioody shell 0r casing, and u .y Y v, A i

Figs. .5,V 6, v'l 4and 8 are sections of Athe lower end portion similarito the lower portion ofy the section cf Fig.,1,sho\ving respectivelyldifferent rnodications of the device. l Y 4 Referring' first to Fig.14,: the` :holder comprises an outer body shell orcasing Il) open at itsop; posite ends andl enclosing a carriery I! forma stick of plasticcosmetic material such, for eig ample, as lipstick or the like, thecarrier and theystijck being slidalile longitudinally within the bodyshell creasing. The means for eiecting this longitudinal shiftingmovement of the care rior and the stick to project thevsticklthrough theopen end of the shell for use or retract it into the shell protectionwhen notwinxuse. comprises an inner` rotary sleeve t3V open at its upperend, and it may be either open or closed at itslower end, and it isprovided witnapair oi lodiigitiidinally` spaced outwardly extendingcircumferentialshoulders preferably ,formed by `loeads lli and l5. Thehead or shoulder I'li'rislocated ad; lcent the 4opten Iupper endl oflthe sleeve wliil 'the lowerloead 'or shoulder l5 may ceplacea at',difierentpcsiticns, as found vde"- sirableighnt is preferablylocate'dla'fs low as ,po f' sible cn the moet ernia* the use of aionge'rintermediate or stationary tubeor sleeve |16 to secure greater travelfor the carrier l'l andthe plastic Stick l2. This inteiniediatenorstation# ary sleeve i6 "may be ro'lledfup froma stripA f sheet metalwith the "opposed end edge'stsom l; wliatrspaced, as indicated' atl 11,to provid ma longitudinally slit sleeve, and it is'` provided with aspirall or inclined slot I8. v, If the sleeve is fa slit sleeveasl/shown, this s'oirfl slot terminates i@ ffeniee .s S- .O the Sleeve?,finit modified type' of sleeve 'is' also commonly used for the samepurpose in which the spiral slot extends through the ends of the sleeve.As this latter construction permits expansion and contraction of thesleeve it is not necessary to employ the longitudinal slot I1. Thesleeve I5 is placed on the inner sleeve I3 and is held thereon by thebeads` I4 and I5 against relative longitudinal movement, and then thisassembly is inserted in the outer body shell I0. Sleeve I6 is madenormally of somewhat larger diameter than the interior diameter of themember IQ so that it is compressed somewhat when inserting it in thisouter member, and then, by its resilient or spring action it expandsagainst the member I0 to engage this member with suflicient friction toretain the sleeves I3 and I6 in the operating position within the memberI Il. The carrier Il is provided with a laterally extending projectionor pin I9 extendingr through longitudinal slot on the sleeve I3 andprojects into the spiral slot I 8. Therefore, Iby relative turningmovement between the sleeve I3 and sleeve I6, this projection is carriedby the slot 20 along the inclined walls of the spiral slot I8, feedingthe carrier Il and the plastic strip I2 mounted therein longitudinallyof the body shell or casing I3. At its upper end the slot 20 ispreferably provided with a short lateral extension 2l, so that as theprojection I9 reaches the upper end of the slot 20 it will move intothis offset and lock the carrier II and stick I2 in the projectedposition for use, so that pressure on the end of the stick in applyingthe material to a surface will not force the stick inwardly. The outerbody shell is preferably provided with an inturned upper end or flange22 over the outer end of the inner sleeve I3 to improve the appearanceand protect the ends of the inner sleeve.

` The inner sleeve I3 is operated by an end cap or finger grip 23secured to the lower end of the sleeve I3. It may be secured to thesleeve in various ways, but that shown is to provide the member 20 witha socket 24 into which the lower end of the sleeve I3 is forced with atight or press fit to secure the two together so that rotation of themember 23 will also rotate the sleeve I3 to operate the propellermechanism for the stick I2; or if the member 23 is held stationary,rotation of the outer body member I0 will have the same effect.Therefore, the propeller mechanism is operated by relative rotationbetween the members I0 and 23.

When not in use, the entire outer shell or body casing Il) and enclosedparts is covered and enclosed in a removable closure cap or cover 25telescoped over the casing I0, but leaving the iinger grip or end cap 23exposed. The cover 25 is of slightly greater internal diameter than theexternal diameter of the outer member I0, so that there is a slightclearance 26 between them, and the cover 25 is free to turn relative tothe member I and the finger grip 23 without turning either of thesemembers. Means is provided for releasably retaining the closure cap orcover 25 in this position, that shown in Fig. l comprising a ring 21located between the lower end 28 of the outer body member ID and the topend wall 29 of the end cap or finger grip 23. This ring is mounted witha slight clearance between these members and als-o the inner sleeve I3,`so that it is a freely rotatable ring, and it may retain the cover 25with a tight frictional telescopic fit with the lower end of the member25 so that the member may be forced over this ring in closing thedevice, but the t should be of a type to permit removal of the closure25 for use. It is, however, preferred to provide a somewhat morepositive retaining means for the closure 25 on the ring 21, such, forexample, as a shallow peripheral groove 30 in the outer wall of the ring21, and then provide the closure 25 with one or more inwardly projectingsmall bumps 3l adapted to seat in this groove and retainthe cover inplace on the ring. There is ordinarily enough spring action between theclosure cap and the ring to permit these bumps to slide over the outersurface of the ring to and from the groove in applying or removing thecover 25, but, if preferred, the cover may be slit on one or both sidesof the bumps so that they are on spring lugs. The ring 21 is of aslightly greater outer diameter than the outside diameter of the casingI0 so as to keep the cover or cap 25 slightly spaced from the casing.With this construction, when the cap or closure 25 is in place, as shownin Fig. 1, it encloses the body shell I3 and the parts closed withinthis body, but is free to turn relative tothis member Ill and the fingergrip 23, so that any rotation of the finger grip 23 while holding theclosure cap 25 stationary, would merely cause the outer body member ISand the elements enclosed therein to rotate with the member 23, and.therefore will not cause relative rotation between the member IU and themember 23 to operate the propeller means for the stick I2, and thereforeit would be impossible to operate this mechanism to jam this stickagainst the outer closed end 32 of the closure 25. Similarly, if themember 23 is held stationary and the cover or closure 25 is rotated, thepropeller mechanism will not be operated for the same reason.

As previously suggested, the lower bead i5 of the inner body sleeve I3is preferably located as low as possible t0 permit the use of a longersleeve I 6 and greater travel to the carrier II. For this reason it ispreferred to locate this bead at the lower end of the member I I) andjust above the ring 21 as shown, but it can be located higher ifpreferred. When located at the lower end of the member I3 it will assistthe member I3 in holding the ring 21 against upward longitudinalmovement, but the lower end of the member I0 is relied upon primarilyfor holding the ring 21 in position in combination with the upper endwall of the cap 23. With this arrangement the ring 21 when the closure25 is in position is entirely enclosed within this closure, and thelower end 33 of the member 25 is closely adjacent the top wall 29 of theend cap or finger grip 23. Therefore, the only break apparent in thedevice is the line between the ends of the members 25 and 23, giving avery neat and attractive appearance, and there is nothing to catch onother objects in the handbag or other carrying means.

In Figs. 5 to 8 are shown various modifications of means for mountingthe freely rotating cover retaining ring corresponding to the ring 21.In Fig. 5 the ring 34 is somewhat wider than the ring 21, so that thelower portion of this ring extends into an annular recess 35 formed inthe end cap or finger grip 36 corresponding to the cap 23. This cap issecured to the inner operating sleeve I3 for operating it to propel andretract the cosmetic stick I2, the same as described in connection withFig. l. The ring 34 is provided `with an annular groove 31 in its outerwall above the end wall 38 of the member 36 n 'sofithat `it.islaf'freely4 .rotating 'fing and retains fthe-closurefeap frfeover.2`5` for 'freefrotation relan tivetolthe.onterf'slell rbdy .i EB andthe'end cap lor; "rig'er.,igviiygilll,V .theLSaIne as in .the other"forms lui-'Fig Sthe-ed-.capfor ngerfg'r'ipll lispro-.vided.withiaredueed upward extension 52 embracing ,-thelend of. the-inrer sleeve i3, and .the v. Vfr.eel5`i rotatable.rngSLCorreSpOnding to(the ring fZl-and the,otherfringsgernbraces this extensien 52, .but witha slight clearance so that vit is i -freely `rotatable thereon. It,Inayfbe retained. by an i annular-groove..544 on ith@ .inner side .of,the "ring into .which outwardly Y. extending bumps` .55 on thelowerfend. portion ofthe sleeve l@ project. @II-his 'ring yis falso held.between Ilthe lower end T25 of the closure vcap c or cover '.25 andfthe top swell-:5Gaofthernd. vcap.' or. iinger-,Zgrip ,5 i .the same asinthe .other-:forms andthe capi 25 is VHretained by this ring by thenubs or projectionstL-snaw ping `into and fsreating in -an .annularv.groove 5l' -;in.-,the outermall of-the ring.

Itl will" be :clear vfrom -the r above that in Veach wf the formsshownfthei-freely-frotatable :ringfor Y@retaining the .gelesui'ecap for@cover in vateleseoperi over-etherv outerfshell-` oir-body casing :l'fisfin all:y forms :located -fand retained-(between ffthe'lower end.28aofther-member lst-and the.end ie'airrfor` nger= ;grip\seeured 5to .thefend`of the 'rinnernperating-fsleeve t3 l@for-operatingf this sleeve.f\n1so,in.gal1 "fformsfthe `flow-elmend of 'ftneffelosure atar-,1169

the -end cap or-ngergripZSf'SS, 3,4.49for15 I ,-r-as the-'oase 'may abe.'Further,=infall. forms-:the re- -itainling -ring -is of La -`'some-Whatilargeroutside idiarneter than thef'outer -diameter vof the easing taneefrom the-casing. "Also,linfalleasesyasfthe ring is a free floating orfreelylrotatablewing the. closure cap-or cover'S-lis always-free to turnrelative fto-i the outer-@body shell-fit: vand-@the lower fend capV4 ornger Lgrip. Therefore, when the cap is in place lit V'is'-impossible tooperate fthe propeller mechanism for l'the plastic *stiek-fl-2--fto project th-iszstickfandj amor crushiits I0uter-en`d i against the --closedfend l32of #this elosurefli'i.

Having thus set fforththe `Vnature ofl my linventionf-What' claim is:

1. Afholder of the-characterdeseribed--compris #ingaeasingfoperrat#one-end, aea-rrierifonaptick of plastic vor -`the likelmovable llong'itudin'ally\ the casing, a rotatable fnger'grip -atthe-other end of fthe casing, means 1operated by vrelative turning-movernent Vdbetween the lnger jgrip'and easing Afor shifting thecarrier, --sai-dl-nger *grip lbeing provided 4vwith -alateral shoulderwspaeed Lfrom the inner end-of-'theecasi-n-gfa ringmounted vbetween theend-fof'fthef-eafsing "and said shoulder andfree to-'turnrelativethereto,-sa'id ring-having an externalI diarnet'er-somewhatgreaterfthan'and `Aani internal diameter'lessfthanvthe'outer'diameter ofthe casing, ae1osu1e'cap teleseopedover the casing fromits-open"end'and-ofrgreaterv internal diameter thantheexternalfdiameter-of the-cas- 'ingfor'freeturn-ing movement relative'Lthereto, nsaid cap being telescoped at -its 'inner Vend over 'thering,` and cooperating means onthe'ringand rcap vto `relea'saloly retainthe cap in position wen- Yclosing the casing.

2. vA holderof the character-described compris inga casing openatone-end,acarrierforastick of plastic `or the 5 like-movablelongitudinal-Win the casing, arot'atablenger -grip attire-other end ofthe ^'casing,-means operated -by relative turning movement between the 4finger grip and casing for `shifting 'the 'carrien na closure canltelescoped over the casing 'from yits open end and having an internalvdiameter 4somewhat greater than the externaldametergof -the casing forfree turningmovementrelativeJ to -the casing,

said 'finger lgrip including "a AVlateral 4shoulder spaced from theinner end ofthe casing, av-retaining ring mounted ybetween the iendl`offthe casing and said shoulderA and-freeitoturn rel-ative thereto,said ring'being vLof-somewhat greater "external `diameter than Ian'dof fless internal diameter than the external diameterof the casing andprovided'gwith an annularVv groove, and the inner end ofthe cap beingitelescoped with the ringA and provided with lateral projectionsextending into said groove Vto-f ile1za`cheb1y-retain the cap inposition 'enclosing'the casing.

"3. A holder ofthe character described. comprising a casingopen at oneend, a carrier'for-a stick of `plastic or the likemovablelongitudinallyin the easing,v a .rotatable -operating 'sleeveinthe casing,v means, operated by relativeV turning movement. betweenthe sleeve andcasing; for ,shifting thel carrier, anenlarged 4head onthesleeve at 1 the other endv of the. casingforming ,a iingergrip lforoperating the sleeve, said head being spaced from the` inner. end ofthec-asing,a retainingring mounted between the inner end of the casing andthe head and free to turn relative thereto, said ring having an externaldiameter somewhat greater than and an internal diameter less than theexternal diameter of the casing, a closure cap telescoped over thecasing from its open end and of somewhat greater internal diameter thanthe external diameter of the casing for free turning movement relativethereto, and means for releasably connecting the inner end of the capwith the ring to retain the cap in position enclosing the casing.

4. A holder of the character described comprising a casing open at oneend, a carrier for a stick of plastic or the like movable longitudinallyin the casing, a rotatable operating sleeve in the casing, meansoperated by relative turning movement between the sleeve and casing forshifting the carrier, an enlarged head on the sleeve at the other end ofthe casing forming a finger grip for operating the sleeve, said headbeing spaced from the inner end of the casing, a retaining ring .mountedbetween the inner end of the casing and the head and free to turnrelative thereto, said .ring being of somewhat greater external diameterthan and of less internal diameter than the ex- '.ternal diameter of thecasing and provided with .an annular groove in its outer side wall, aclosure -cap telescoped over the casing from its open end of somewhatgreater internal diameter than the l external diameter of the casing forfree turning movement relative thereto, the inner end of the cap beingtelescoped over the ring and provided with inward projections seated inthe groove to retain the cap in position thereon enclosing the casing,said projections being yieldably mounted to pass over the ring to andfrom the groove.

5. A holder of the character described comprising a casing open at oneend, a carrier for a stick of plastic or the like movable longitudinallyin the casing, a rotatable operating sleeve in the casing, anintermediate stationary sleeve between the first sleeve and the casing,cooperating means on the sleeves operated by relative turning movementbetween the first sleeve and the casing for shifting the carrier,outwardly extending projecting means on the rst sleeve at the ends ofthe intermediate sleeve to relatively position the sleeves, an enlargedhead on the rst sleeve at the inner end of the casing forming a ngergrip and provided with a lateral shoulder spaced from the end of thecasing, a ring mounted between the end of the casing and said shoulderand free to turn relative thereto, said ring having an outer diametersomewhat greater than and an internal diameter less than the externaldiameter of the casing, a closure cap telescoped over the casing fromits open end and of somewhat greater internal diameter than the externaldiameter of the casing for free turning movement relative thereto, saidcap being telescoped over the ring, and cooperating means on the ringand cap to detachably secure the cap on the ring in position enclosingthe casing.

6. A holder of the character described comprising a casing open at oneend, a carrier for a stick i' of plastic or the like movablelongitudinally in the casing, a rotatable operating sleeve in thecasing, means operated by relative turning movement between the sleeveand casing for shifting the carrier, an enlarged head forming a iingergrip and comprising a member provided with a socket in which the innerend of the rst sleeve is seated to secure the head to the sleeve, saidhead being provided with a lateral shoulder longitudinally spaced fromthe inner end o f the casing, a retaining ring mounted between saidshoulder and the end of the casing and free to turn relative thereto,said ring having an outer diameter somewhat greater than the outerdiameter of the casing and an inner diameter less than the outsidediameter of the casing, a closure cap telescoped over the casing fromits open end and of somewhat greater internal diameter than the externaldiameter of the casing for free turning movement thereon, said cap beingtelescoped at its inner end over the ring, and means to detachablyretain the cap on the ring.

'7. A holder of the character described comprising a casing open at oneend, a carrier for a stick of plastic or the like movable longitudinallyin the casing, a rotatable operating sleeve in the casing, meansoperated by relative turning movement between the sleeve and casing forshifting the carrier, an enlarged head on the sleeve at the other end ofthe casing forming a finger grip for operating the sleeve, said headbeing provided with a lateral shoulder spaced longitudinally from theinner end of the casing, a retaining ring mounted between the end of thecasing and the shoulder and free to turn relative thereto, said ringhaving an outer diameter somewhat greater than and an inner diameterless than the outer diameter of the casing, said ring being providedwith an annular groove in its outer surface, a closure cap telescopedover the casing from its open end and of somewhat greater internaldiameter than the external diameter of the casing for free turningmovement thereon, and said cap being telescoped over the ring at itsinner end and provided with yieldable projections seated in said grooveto releasably retain the cap in position enclosing the casing.

8. A holder of the character described comprising a casing open at oneend, a carrier for a stick of plastic or the like movable longitudinallyin the casing, a rotatable operating sleeve in the casing, meansoperated by relative turning movement between the sleeve and casing forshifting the carrier, an enlarged head on the sleeve at the other end ofthe casing forming a nger grip for operating the sleeve, said head beingspaced from the inner end of the casing and provided with an annularrecess opposite the end of the casing, a retaining ring mounted betweenthe head and the lower end of the casing and free to turn relativethereto, said ring located with its lower portion enclosed in saidrecess, said ring being of an external diameter slightly greater thanand an internal diameter less than the external diameter of the casingand provided with an annular groove in its outer wall, a closure captelescoped over the casing from its open end and of slightly greaterinternal diameter than the external diameter of the casing for freeturning movement thereon, and the inner end of the cap being telescopedover the ring and provided with projections seated in said groove toretain the cap in position enclosing the casing and adapted to yield topermit application and removal of the cap.

9. A holder of the character described comprising a casing open at oneend, a carrier for a stick of plastic or the like movable longitudinallyin the casing, a rotatable operating sleeve in the casing, meansoperated by relative turning movement between the sleeve and casing forshifting the carrier, an enlarged head on the sleeve at the other end ofthe casing forming a finger grip for operating the sleeve, said headbeing provided with a lateral shoulder spaced longitudinally from theend of the casing, said sleeve being provided with an outwardlyextending shoulder adjacent the end of the easing, a retaining ringmounted between the shoulders and free to turn relative thereto, saidring having an outer diameter somewhat greater than and an innerdiameter less than the outer diameter of the casing, a closure captelescoped over the casing from its open end and having an internaldiameter somewhat greater than the external diameter of the casing forfree turning movement relative to the casing, said cap being telescopedat its inner` end over the ring, and cooperating means on the ring andcap to detachably secure the cap in position enclosing the casing.

10. A holder of the character described comprising a casing open at oneend, a carrier for a stick of plastic or the like movable longitudinallyin the casing, a rotatable operating sleeve in the casing, meansoperated by relative turning movement between the sleeve and casing forshifting the carrier, an enlarged head on the sleeve at the other end ofthe casing forming a iinger grip for operating the sleeve, said headbeing provided with a lateral shoulder spaced longitudinally from theend of the casing and a tubular extension embracing the sleeve andextending toward the casing, a retaining ring mounted on said tubularextension and free to turn relative thereto, said ring being of anexternal diameter somewhat greater than and an internal diameter lessthan the external diameter of the casing, means to retain the ring onthe extension, a closure cap telescoped over the casing from its openend and having an internal diameter somewhat greater than the externaldiameter of the casing for free turning movement relative to the casing,said cap being telescoped at its inner end over the ring, andcooperating means on the ring and cap to releasably retain the cap inposition enclosing the casing.

11. A holder of the character described comprising a casing open at oneend, a carrier for a stick of plastic or the like movable longitudinallyin the casing, a rotatable nger grip at the other end of the casing,means operated by relative turning movement between the nger grip andcasing for shifting the carrier, said finger grip being provided with alateral shoulder spaced from the inner end of the casing, a ring mountedbetween the end of the casing and said shoulder and free to turnrelative thereto, said ring having an external diameter somewhat greaterthan and an internal diameter less than the outer diameter of thecasing, a closure cap telescoped over the casing from its open end andof greater internal diameter than the external diameter of the casingfor free turning movement relative thereto, said cap being telescoped atits inner end over the ring, means releasably retaining the ring and theinner end of the cap together for unit rotation.

RUDOLPH N. HOULIHAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,646,005 Baguey Oct. 18, 19271,849,531 Lyhne Mar. 15, 1932 2,127,350 Davis Aug. 16, 1938 2,309,000Morrison Jan. 19, 1943 2,337,682 Reichenbach Dec. 28, 1943 2,368,044'Seager Jan. 23, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 834,749 FranceAug. 29, 1938

